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With this charming boor’s consent, may I dance the next rigadoon with you Madame?
(Avec l'Agrement de cet Agreable Muf'e)
(1841)
from the Les débardeurs (The dock workers) series, first published in Le Charivari, 1840-43
- Credit Line
- National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne
Purchased, 1946
- Gallery location
- 18th Century Decorative Arts & Paintings Gallery
Level 2, NGV International
About this work
This lithograph captures an exchange between three women, two of whom are dressed in men’s attire. Dressed as a débardeur (dock worker), one woman playfully asks another to dance, satirising the rituals of polite society by also formally requesting permission from her ‘gentleman’ companion. While masked balls emboldened revellers to indulge in a measure of social license unknown to their everyday lives, this freedom had its limits. The Paris police were known to charge attendees dancing ‘indecently’ with violating public conduct laws.
Artwork Details
printed in ink u.c.: LES DEBARDEURS
printed in ink u.r.: 59
printed in ink l.l.: Chez Aubert gal. Véro-Dodat
printed in ink l.c.: Par Gavarni
printed in ink l.r.: Imp. d'Aubert & Cie (“ under ie)
printed in ink l.l.: Avec l'agrément de cet agréable muf'e là, pourraît-on, Madame, pincer / avec toi le prochain rigodon?
printed in ink l.c.l.: Se vend chez Bauger & Cie, Editeurs des Dessins de la CARICATURE du FIGARO et du CHARIVARI, R. du Croissant 16.
Purchased, 1946
This digital record has been made available on NGV Collection Online through the generous support of the Joe White Bequest
Level 2, NGV International